The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-08-11
ALEssON OF,rHE HOUR.


Shilly.shally nonsense which ls be.
coming more and more common In the
conduct OF the judges and juries Of cur
criminal courts all over the country, Is
plainly working out its natural mission.
Criminals are learning to rely upon the
silly and unbUsinass like sentiment
which pOnrs ont from the community
upon the fflcials In charge of their case
aud sii6es the effOr 8 Of justice In be-
half Of society. Every day the tele-
gra9h 10 burdened with disgusting
reports f murder and revolving crimes.
An honest. sturdy man, who heads a
M BILE family, by long and hard effort
laws by few dollars for his support In
old age, suddenly In the midst of the
society he loves and supports filings up
his rigid arms and sinks beneath the
lead or steel of the beast who covets
his little wealth. The stately women
aud the rosy-cheeked girls-6Od bless
them fortVar-in the midst of the ap-
parent loving protection of the social
circle they ad0rn, have need to tremble
In fear of swarm Of undisturbed lech.
erous devils who ought to be in sheOl
whore they belong.
Society Is a powerful institution
which stands as the foundation Of States
and governments. 1t Is the natural
Outgrowth Of civilization, and law and
gOVrrmental Institutions can be devel.
Uped only In proportion to Its growth
and condition. 1t Is necessarily of slow
growth, and fortunately for the people
and their cherished institutions, Its
decay depends entirely upon the geRer.
ally slow disintegration of established
tenets, and a perversion of the public
policy and religious doctrines Of the
land.
If society were net thus intrenched,
1t would not be difficult TO fOresee the
effect of lawlessness when there is no
fear Of the law. The common practice
and almost custom of liOnizing Grim
inals after they get into the hands of
the law Is becoming serious matter.
The class OF people who are ready by
their acts to confess the strange fasci-
nation that crime and criminals have
for them Is large one, and 1t is a
lameEtable fact that 1t comprises many
who have standing and influence. The
creature who violates the law, who is
imprisoned, and then psmpered and
c0Oed over by his betteTs, loses sight
uhu VuOuBhb VI bub 6uu DelOE0 uIuI,
except to indulge the hope that he may
by some means escape the punishment
he deserves, and is often conteuted and
even proud of his condition. The effect
of these things upon the rising genera
tions must soon become q matter for
seriOns consideration. It Is time to
attend to 1t now. The reports which
come in OF murders and other crimes in
clnde as principal actors people Of all
ages from boys and girls OF 7 and years
of age upward. These children are not
criminals from designing wickedness or
premeGitstiOn; they are too young for
either. Is it not at least probable that
they have learned even at this early age,
to think of violations OF law the same
as boys regard The use of tobscco-ss
being smart and maAly2 Is 1t not prob
able that their education, shaped by the
days dOings and pnblic sentiment, is
leading them to regard a strict adhe'
renee to law and right as foRyism. and
the opposite as being young Amer icsnP
Yea. more than probable, 1t is fact.
Whittier are we drift Ing with refer
ence to the law Of the lan1?-shOuld be
lesson of the hour to be we'll and care
fully studied. The remedy for the evils
revealed will suggest itself to officers,
citizens and parents.-[Ezchange.